EVERYONE NEEDS TO HEAR THIS with Nina Teicholz

The Pervasive Influence of US Dietary Guidelines [3:16]

• The US dietary guidelines are the most influential policy on nutrition and diet, affecting what people perceive as healthy.
• They dictate the food served in school lunches, feeding programs for the elderly, and what the military is taught.
• Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, dietitians, and nutritionists, rely on these guidelines, making them indirectly impactful on everyone.
• The guidelines have been flawed since their 1980 inception, with the food pyramid famously emphasizing grains and starches at the base.
• Current recommendations include six to seven servings of grains daily, three of which can be refined grains, along with five and a half teaspoons of seed oils and up to 10% of calories from sugar, with no limit on sugar for children in schools.
• Fixing children's health is seen as impossible without reforming these guidelines, as school meals contribute significantly to their caloric intake.

The US dietary guidelines are a critical policy lever that dictates nutritional advice and food standards across various sectors, from schools to healthcare. Their long-standing emphasis on grains and sugars, coupled with limitations on nutrient-dense fats, has had detrimental effects on public health, particularly for children.

"So, the US dietary guidelines for Americans is the most influential policy on nutrition, on diet. It is the key lever affecting what people think is a healthy diet and what people are required or or what they're fed in school lunches, feeding programs for the elderly, what the military is taught to eat."

The 2020 Guidelines Process and Shifting Landscape [5:35]

• The dietary guidelines are revisited every five years, with the next edition expected soon.
• The 2020 guidelines process was unusual, as the expert committee's report was completed under one administration but the final guidelines were to be written by the subsequent one.
• The expert report under the previous administration largely continued the trend of recommending fewer animal proteins and more plant-based proteins, with no reduction in grains and a continued recommendation for refined grains.
• This expert report has been "scrapped," and new dietary guidelines are being developed.
• Hopeful signs include statements from an FDA Commissioner suggesting a re-examination of the 10% cap on saturated fats, reflecting evolving scientific consensus.
• This indicates a potential for a major change in the guidelines, moving away from outdated recommendations.

The development of the latest dietary guidelines has been marked by an unusual transition, with the current administration taking over the finalization process. Early signs suggest a potential shift, with discussions around re-evaluating the saturated fat cap, hinting at a departure from decades-old nutritional advice.

"Um, so just to understand where we are in this process, Ken, you already explained the cut every five years. A new addition is set to come out by the end of this month or early next month. And it is highly unusual what has happened in this goound of the guidelines."

The Pervasive Impact of Guidelines Beyond Federal Funding [9:01]

• Any program receiving federal funding in the US must adhere to the dietary guidelines, including school lunches, WIC, and SNAP benefits.
• The guidelines are considered the "gold standard," meaning even institutions not receiving federal money often follow them to avoid legal scrutiny.
• This global influence extends to other countries, which frequently adopt or adapt the US guidelines for their own populations.
• The US government has a long history of issuing dietary recommendations, evolving from basic food groups to the food pyramid and "MyPlate."
• The influence of "big food" lobbyists is significant, with concerns about their deep ties to the committees that shape these guidelines.

The reach of the US dietary guidelines extends far beyond federal programs, impacting global food policy and institutional practices due to their status as a benchmark. This broad influence underscores the importance of ensuring these guidelines are based on sound science rather than industry interests.

"So, even if you're not taking federal money, you if you are a large institution like a large medical practice or hospital change, you follow the guidelines because you fear going outside of the gold standard will get you in trouble legally."

Conflicts of Interest in Dietary Guideline Committees [13:00]

• The food and pharmaceutical industries exert considerable influence, with the latter funding nearly all nutrition scientists.
• Pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in people using drugs rather than diet for health solutions.
• A stark example is an employee of a company producing medical formulas serving on a dietary guideline committee, creating a conflict of interest favoring supplements over food-based solutions.
• A systematic review of the 2020 committee revealed that 95% of its 20 members had at least one tie to the food or pharma industry, such as research grants or employment.
• Half of the committee members had 30 or more such ties, with one having 152.
• These conflicts incentivize adherence to the status quo, preventing the incorporation of new, evolving science into dietary guidelines that have remained fundamentally unchanged for 45 years.

The integrity of the dietary guideline committees is compromised by extensive conflicts of interest, with a vast majority of members having ties to the food and pharmaceutical industries. This systemic bias ensures that the guidelines remain static, failing to incorporate current scientific understanding and perpetuating outdated nutritional advice.

"We found that 95% of this 20 person committee had at least one tie with food or pharma."

The Rise of Pediatric Chronic Diseases Linked to Dietary Guidelines [16:02]

• For the past 40-45 years, federal dietary guidelines have been in effect, influencing the food provided in school lunches, WIC, and SNAP.
• During this period, conditions like type 2 diabetes and dietary-induced fatty liver in children, which were virtually non-existent 45 years ago, have emerged.
• Childhood obesity rates have also dramatically increased from near zero to significant levels.
• These new pediatric health crises are directly linked to the food recommended by the federal dietary guidelines.
• "Big food" profits from ultra-processed, high-carb, sugar-laden foods, while "big pharma" profits from treating the chronic diseases that result from this diet.
• This creates a cycle where processed food leads to illness, which then requires pharmaceutical interventions, benefiting both industries while children suffer from preventable and reversible chronic diseases.

The consistent implementation of federal dietary guidelines over the past 45 years correlates with a alarming rise in pediatric chronic diseases. This epidemic is fueled by a symbiotic relationship between "big food" and "big pharma," where processed foods lead to illness, which in turn drives demand for pharmaceutical treatments, creating a profitable but detrimental cycle for children's health.

"So, while the federal government's dietary guidelines have been in effect for the last 40 45 years, all of these new pediatric conditions have come out of nowhere."

Re-examining Saturated Fat Caps and the Potential for Change [20:15]

• There's an opportunity for a major shift in guidelines, with a re-examination of the cap on saturated fats being a significant factor.
• This cap, dating back to the 1960s, limits the consumption of red meat and fatty meats, which are crucial for protein absorption and satiety.
• It also restricts whole milk and eggs in school meal programs, despite their nutrient density and essential nutrients like heme iron and bioavailable calcium.
• Lifting the saturated fat cap is justified by science and would represent a dramatic shift, allowing for the inclusion of more nutrient-dense whole foods.
• Discussions are also ongoing about reducing the amount of added sugars and refined grains, which actively contribute to insulin resistance and chronic disease.
• The potential inclusion of language allowing for low-carbohydrate diets for individuals with metabolic diseases is a key point of advocacy.

The current review of US dietary guidelines presents a critical opportunity to reform long-standing recommendations, particularly concerning saturated fat limits and sugar intake. The potential inclusion of low-carbohydrate diets as an option for those with metabolic diseases could be a significant victory in combating chronic illness.

"Why is that so important? saturated fats, the cap on those, which really dates back to like the early 1960s with the American Heart Association that started that, that limits the amount of uh red meat that people are allowed to eat and meat with fat in it."

The Scientific Basis and Suppression of Low-Carbohydrate Diets [31:13]

• Low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets are among the most researched diets for chronic metabolic diseases, with over 400 ongoing studies.
• Despite this extensive research, these diets have historically been met with resistance and misrepresented as unsafe or faddish.
• In the 2015 guideline process, a secret review of low-carb diets found they outperformed low-fat diets for weight loss, but this evidence was buried by USDA officials.
• In the 2020 process, the committee claimed to find no studies on low-carb diets, despite a wealth of literature, by manipulating inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• Computer modeling was used in the 2020 process instead of clinical trials, and carbohydrates were removed without replacement, leading to nutritionally deficient and unsustainable "diets."
• This deliberate distortion of scientific literature aims to keep low-carbohydrate diets out of consideration, driven by a desire to protect the profit margins of the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The scientific evidence supporting low-carbohydrate diets for metabolic health is robust, yet this information has been actively suppressed and distorted by those with vested interests. Historical reviews and committee decisions reveal a pattern of burying positive research and employing flawed methodologies to discredit these beneficial dietary approaches.

"So there's just two reasons you would that you're working. You're either working to improve people's health, some everybody's health, or you're working to improve certain people's profit."

The Importance of Public Voice and Advocacy [41:48]

• It is crucial for the public to make their voices heard to influence the dietary guidelines, especially regarding the inclusion of low-carb options.
• Websites like LowCarbMaha.org provide resources, talking points, and graphics to aid in advocacy.
• Engaging on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) is essential, as administration officials often use these channels for information and communication.
• By sharing personal stories and tagging relevant agencies and officials, individuals can demonstrate public support and stakeholder interest.
• The US dietary guidelines have a global influence, and their adoption of low-carb options could create a significant shift in nutritional advice worldwide.
• The current situation is a "tragedy" where individuals with chronic diseases lack official, effective advice for reversal, relying instead on recommendations that can worsen their conditions.

The inclusion of low-carbohydrate options in the US dietary guidelines hinges on active public participation. By leveraging social media and advocacy websites, individuals can amplify their voices, counteracting the influence of lobbyists and ensuring that evidence-based nutritional strategies are considered for the betterment of public health.

"Um, so it's important for people to know, it's important for these administration officials to know that we exist. Our voices exist. We want options to get healthy."

A Moment of Opportunity for Health Reform [58:50]

• This administration is seen as uniquely open to non-status quo science and committed to reversing diseases, presenting a rare opportunity for meaningful change.
• The issue of health reform through dietary guidelines is not partisan, transcending political differences.
• The goal is to improve the health of all Americans, from children to adults, by advocating for evidence-based nutritional choices.
• The website lowcarbmaha.org is a resource for downloadable graphics and information on who to tag on social media to make voices heard.
• The urgency of the situation is highlighted by the fact that only 12% of American adults are completely healthy, underscoring the need for a low-carb option in the guidelines.
• Sustained and loud public advocacy is the most effective way to influence the administration and ensure that the dietary guidelines promote better health outcomes.

The current administration's openness to new scientific perspectives and its commitment to tackling chronic diseases create a critical window for advocating for updated dietary guidelines. By uniting across political divides and amplifying public voices through targeted social media campaigns, there's a genuine possibility of making impactful changes that will benefit the health of the nation.

"I I have never seen an administration so open to um the non-status quo science and so committed to trying to reverse diseases. I think this is it. Like I I really think this is our moment and we ought not to waste it."